Davao City considers permanent establishment of Kadayawan Festival and its associated villages.
In an exciting development for Davao City, the Kadayawan Village is set to transform from a temporary attraction during the annual Kadayawan Festival into a permanent, year-round cultural and tourism destination. This initiative aligns with the city's broader tourism goals, aiming to boost visitor interest beyond the festival period and showcase the city's rich cultural heritage year-round.
The ongoing partnership between the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) and the ethnolinguistic tribes is central to this project. The goal is to create a harmonious, multicultural environment within the Kadayawan Village, where each of the 13 ethnolinguistic groups works to authentically showcase their unique cultures and traditions.
The initial plan is to lay out the houses in the village to reflect a true community, not separating Moro and Indigenous People's (IP) houses. This layout promotes multicultural interaction, fostering a sense of unity and mutual respect among the various groups.
The City Economic Enterprise (CEE), which manages Magsaysay Park, is involved in the discussions for the institutionalization of the Kadayawan Village within the park. A substantial budget will be required to ensure the village's structural integrity and long-term sustainability.
Davao City Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz announced plans to institutionalize the Kadayawan Festival, with the aim of passing an ordinance that will formally establish the Kadayawan Village as a permanent fixture within Magsaysay Park. The goal is to fast-track the process, aiming for completion within a year. If not acted upon quickly, the next Kadayawan in 2026 might pass without the necessary changes.
The focus is on making the Kadayawan Village in Magsaysay Park a permanent, year-round cultural attraction. The village will remain open and functional year-round as a cultural and tourism destination. This institutionalization supports Davao City’s branding efforts to present itself as more than just its iconic symbols, emphasizing a living culture and community.
Bangsamoro Maguindanaon Deputy Mayor Gabriel F. Nakan emphasizes the ongoing partnership with the CTOO, supporting livelihood and cultural programs for the tribes. Several meetings have already been held with the city's 11 ethnolinguistic tribes to plan the institutionalization of the Kadayawan Village.
The current plan for the Kadayawan Village is to open it up as a year-round cultural and tourism destination, extending the festivities beyond the annual celebration to establish a permanent cultural hub that highlights Indigenous Peoples’ heritage and the city’s homegrown talents. This move is part of a broader effort to institutionalize the Kadayawan Festival itself, with the aim of increasing tourist arrivals during the 2025 Kadayawan Festival by 50%.
In summary, Davao City is actively working to institutionalize the Kadayawan Village as a permanent cultural and tourism site, integrated into the city’s ongoing efforts to boost tourism and cultural pride. Though detailed progress specifics remain limited at this time, the initiative is confirmed as a current priority within the city’s tourism planning frameworks and festival organizational activities.
- The Kadayawan Village, once a temporary attraction for the annual festival in Davao City, is now set to become a permanent cultural and travel destination, showcasing the city's rich lifestyle and diverse cultural heritage year-round.
- To authentically represent each of the 13 ethnolinguistic groups in Davao City, the houses in the Kadayawan Village will be arranged in a community layout, encouraging multicultural interaction and bridge building among the various groups.
- The institutionalization of the Kadayawan Village as a year-round cultural attraction in Magsaysay Park aims to expand the city's tourism offerings, driving increased interest in cultural travel and home-and-garden visits during the 2025 Kadayawan Festival and beyond.
